H. Nelson Jackson: A friend of President Theodore Roosevelt and often vacationed in his New York summer home. WWI was looming and Dr Jackson requested enterance into the Military. He was denied, at first due to his age. However, Roosevelt made it happen and Horatio Nelson Jackson became a Medical officer. At the time he organized The American Legion in the state of Vermont, he was in the early stages of convalescence from a gunshot..

The American Legion was an experiment to assist the WWI veterans and their families. Horatio Nelson Jackson organizer needed a man that could lead the State as Commander. 

Reverand John Martin Thomas was asked to lead the organization. A man of faith, educator, business man with an gift for fundraising money. 

John Martin Thomas was born at Fort Covington, NY. born 12/27/1869. 

He resided in Middlebury, VT

Served as a 1LT Chaplain 10/2/1918-4/5/1919. His principal station was Camp Taylor,..

Headquarters for the State of Vermont was established in Middlebury, probably because that was closest to Commander Thomas, who was the President of Middlebury College. However, following the 1920 Department Convention was moved to Burlington because it was next to the Veterans Bureau. Althoug, the 1922 convention was contentious with members of Montpelier demanding the HQ move to the capital city, it was defeated stating that Burlington was the home of the Veterans Bureau and..

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGION & EARLY HISTORY OF VERMONT State Headquarters The main purpose of this narrative history is to keep the members of The American Legion and The American Legion, Department of Vermont informed that the Department Of Vermont, Inc. is a very active Department. The founders of this proud organization Would be proud of their Department. Because the early records of The American Legion, Department of Vermont were destroyed by a fire,..

Vermont Department Commanders and Adjutants 1919 – Year COMMANDERS ADJUTANTS 1919 H. Nelson Jackson (temporary until Convention 1919 John M. Thomas Joseph H Fountain 1920 John F. Sullivan Allen Fletcher 1921 Burt S. Hyland Allen Fletcher 1922 Allen Fletcher John J. Cocklin 1923 Charles N. Barber G. Benjamin White 1924 Fred B. Thomas G. Benjamin White 1925 Col. Robert W. McCuen Kenneth H. Wheelock 1926 Dr. James M. Hamilton Jack Crowley 1927 Carleton M. Lawrence..

John Francis Sullivan of St. Albans, Vt Born November 11, 1888.

Served in the Spanish-American war and the Mexican border in 1916 and WWI. Captain in the Infantry served with the 5th Division in France. 3/25/1917 Co B, 1st Vt Infantry 5/16/1917; Co C 1st Vt Inf; 40th Division, 157th Infantry.  He served overseas 9/27/1918-4/11/1919. Discharged 5/14/1919. 

He was a Charter member of Post #1 and the Second Department Commander of Vermont.

1922 He was the National Executive..

BERT HYLAND

Over 100 years ago, Post #31 applied for its temporary charter into The American Legion. This organization was formed with the principles described in the Preamble of our Constitution. Our mission statement that has not changed over the past 100 years, other than the word War to Wars. Our purpose was clear to those doughboys of WWI, it was..

Allen Fletcher Jr. born Sept 22, 1887 Indianapolis, Indiana. He resided in Ludlow, VT

Inducted WWI on 12/18/17. Battery A 66th Artillery Fort Stark, NH then Battery F 54th Artillery 10/6/18; Overseas duty 9/17/18-3/10/1919. He was a Staff Sergeant on discharge 3/13/19.

He died November 27, 1960 at the age..

Charles N. Barber, DOB: 9/8/1884, in Barre, VT. Graduated from Spaulding High School. Attended Norwich University, where he was Captain of the football team in 1907. Graduated from Norwich 1908 with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. 

Enlisted 4/2/17 1st Vermont Infantry (57th Pion Inf.) Overseas 9/28/18-3/20/1919 Camp Wadsworth, France he was the Captain and Regimental Adjutant. 

Member of Sorrell-Maynard Post #63 in Northfield. 

1923 became Department Commander.  

1940-47 Director of Vermont Selective Service Department, (Awarded a certificate of..

Fred B. Thomas born Stowe, Vt. June 6, 1869 Educated at the People's Academy, Morrisville and in 1895 gradauted from Norwich University. He studied Law with George Wing of Montpelier until 1926 when he relocated to Randolph. 

He was States Attorney for Orange and Washington Counties.

He was a Probate Judge until he retired from ill health.

He was Vermont State Commissioner for taxes under Governors Hartness and Proctor. 

Many years a Trustee of Norwich University. 1951 he was..

Robert W, McCuen, son of an Irish immigrant, he was  born in Vergennes May 30, 1880. He was educated in the schools in Vergennes, Vt, attended Middlebury College and graduated from Boston University Law School. He returned to Vergennes and practiced law, represented Vergennes in the legislature and Addison County Senator. 

He owned the Enterprise, Vermonter,Orwell Citizen newspapers. He also acquired interest in the Middlebury Registry and for several years was the editor and a writer...

Dr Hamilton a compassionate member of the community of Rutland, VT.

1891 graduated from University of Vermont Medical School and was distinguished and excelled with regards to Military Scince and tactics. He then graduated from the College of Physicians in Batimore, MD

He served in the Spanish American War as a surgeon.

1914 elected Commander of the Vermont Spanish American War Veterans (Teddy Roosevelt Chapter).

1914 Vermont Medical Sorient Executive Board and 1915 became the secretary for the board.

1915..

Carlton Lawrence: born May 29,1876 in Enosburg Falls. His father immigrated from Canada. He graduated from Kimball Union Academy and Dartmouth College. He was a Civil Engineer. 

1916-1919 he served for the Canadian Expeditiary Forces and was wounded twice overseas duty WW1. Returned home and was made a Colonel in the Vermont State Guard. 

WWII he was an executive officer in the 1st Battalion and was a former Commander of Company B, 172nd Infantry in the Vermont..

Pearl T. Clapp born in Barnard and resided in Brattleboro, VT. He was a  charter member and first Commander of Brattleboro Post #5. 

He was a soldier in the Mexican conflict 1916. He was a 1LT in the Fuller Battery from 1889-1895.

He enlisted onJuly 27, 1915 enetered service on April 2, 1917 to the Machine Gun Comany 1st Vermont infantry to Aug.23, 1917. Comany E 101st Ammunition Train to Discharge on April 29,1919. Overseas 10/3/21917 to..

Charles  Russell Little born Dec 16, 1894 at Fair Haven, VT

1928 Commander of Fair Haven Post #49 .

Elected Department Commander at the State Convention in Fair Haven. 5,000 members attended the convention. 

Enlisted June 19, 1916 Entered Service Apr 3, 1917 Company A 1st Vermont Infantry - Dec 11, 1918 Rank: 1LT. 

Chairman of the Home Defense Committee Fair Haven.

President of the Fair Haven Sports Club 1936

He had two sons that entered the Army and Navy during..

Marcell Conway served as Department Commander from 1929-1930. He was 32 years old, to date the youngest Commander elected. Born 7/17/1897.

Department Membership Chairman 1931.

Served in the Naval Aviation Corps. WW1. Enlisted 5/21/1918-2/7/1919

Conway fought for what was called Shell Shock. These veterans that years olater suffered from what we now call PTSD. He petitioned for Mental Health Facilities for veterans. He spoke ofen to various organizations about the great work of The American Legion caring for..

Jack was born 2/11/1891 in Washington DC moved to St Albans, VT in 1920. 

Enlisted: 4/3/1917, Machine Gun Company 1st VT Infantry Company C 103d Machine Gun Battalion Company B and also G. Primary station: Ft Ethan Allen. (Captain) overseas 10/3/17-4/17/1919. WW1 veteran. As noted in the Newspaper (he was one of the first boys to join the military in WW1)

1927 Post COmmander of Green Mountain Post #1

He was a Treasurer.Central Vermont Railroad.

As Department Commander he..